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I was just like you. I was filled with self-doubt. I was a glass half-empty rather than a glass half-full kind of person. And yet deep down I knew I was capable of so much more than I dared to let myself believe.
I enjoyed school. I did quite well, I worked relatively hard and always thought I’d go to university someday. But then life happened, as it does. It cast my plans aside and led me down a path I had never imagined I would end up on.

I’m sure you know how the story goes; wrong crowd, led astray, missed opportunities, the usual stuff. I was unemployed for a few years, trying out jobs and never really liking them, trying to go to college but never actually completing the course and just generally banging my head against a brick wall. I didn’t know how I was going to turn my life around, or how I was going to get things back on track. Then I found Fircroft.

I applied and was accepted for the Access to Higher Education Diploma. For the first time in years I felt like I had a plan, a goal, something to strive towards. The college was just what I’d been waiting for all these years. It was hope.

Fircroft is a place that changes lives. It builds you up when life has ground you down and sends you back out into the world a stronger, more confident, more knowledgeable person. Before long I started to feel like me again. But not the old me, a brand new me, me 2.0. I was confident, I had self-belief and I was raring to go. Excited to see where this new road would lead me.

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies. We can talk ourselves out of doing things which we know may be challenging. We start to think about everything that could go wrong, we focus on the negatives and fail to see the wealth of possibilities that are on the horizon. Fircroft helps you to rise above, to look at yourself from a different perspective and to begin to believe in your own capabilities.

Fast forward 10 years and I’m back at Fircroft, this time as a member of staff. Working to make sure that people like me, people like us, are aware of the fantastic opportunities that the college offers.

This is my journey. It may be similar to yours, it may be completely different, but one thing that we have in common is the desire to transform our lives. I did it and you can too, start your journey today, apply for the Access to Higher Education Diploma at Fircroft College – dare to believe.

For more information on the Access to HE Diploma at Fircroft College please visit our website.

‘Skills for Further Study’ courses offer the ideal platform to progress to the Access to Higher Education Diploma.

Life, work and study skills are something we all need to get on in life.

For some people, these skills are developed at an early age, through school and the conventional education system. For others, acquiring these skills is not so straightforward for a variety of reasons.

Where this is the case, many people approach their local adult education college to ‘catch-up’ on some of their missed education.

To qualify for the Access to Higher Education Diploma, many students opt to study Level 2 courses such as those offered by the Skills for Further Studyprogramme at Fircroft College of Adult Education.

Skills for Further Study courses provide you with the skills and knowledge required for the Access Diploma. They use a variety of learning materials relevant to each subject, making the experience interactive and enjoyable.

The subjects you can study include:

– Speaking and listening skills

– Introduction to Literature

– Introduction to History

– Introduction to Social Science

– Essay writing skills

Once you have successfully completed some or all of the Skills for Further Studycourses, you should be much better prepared to study the Access to Higher Education Diploma.

At Fircroft College of Adult Education, we have many examples of students who have worked their way up from entry-level courses to the Access Diploma and then on to university.

One inspiring example is Shafiq Ur-Rehman. Shafiq spent a long period of time in unfulfilling jobs and decided to undertake a series of Level 1 and 2 courses at Fircroft to improve his career prospects.

He then took the next step and successfully completed the Access Diploma at Fircroft as a residential student. This enabled Shafiq to progress to undergraduate study where he studied Law at the University of Gloucestershire. You can read more about Shafiq’s inspiring story and many others like his here.

Fircroft welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds who want to improve their knowledge and skills for learning and employment.

To find out more about how we can help you develop your skills in a supportive environment and prepare you for the Access to Higher Education Diploma, please contact us on 0121 472 0116 or visit this page.

People of all age groups and backgrounds study the Access to Higher Education Diploma at Fircroft College.

The Access to Higher Education Diploma provides an affordable, alternative route to university for people without formal qualifications.

Many would-be students think that the only way into university is via A-Levels, or vocational equivalents such as BTEC and NVQ.

Other people rule out university because they think they lack the academic ability, social skills or may feel they’re too old.

The Access to Higher Education Diploma banishes these myths, enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to study a nationally recognised pre-university qualification.

Each year at Fircroft, the access course brings together a wonderfully diverse group of people from across the UK. Every student has a unique story to tell, from those who’ve overcome personal challenges to older people who want to keep learning throughout retirement.

Studying the access diploma costs less than you may think, as there’s generally more financial assistance available than traditional pre-university qualifications.

Tuition fees are free if you’re aged between 19 and 23 and don’t have a full BTEC or NVQ Level 3 qualification. You may also be eligible for a living allowance, childcare provision and travel costs.

Other financial benefits include:

– All students receive help with living costs regardless of age.

– Residential students receive free meals and an additional living allowance.

– Non-residential students receive a free lunch and help towards childcare costs.

For full details of financial assistance available, please take a look at the Fircroft website.

Apart from a fulfilling learning experience, all students enjoy a varied range of social, leisure and sporting activities at Fircroft. These extra-curricular activities complement the learning experience, by helping students to unwind, get to know each other and reflect on the day’s study.

At the end of the Access course, you’ll have earned a qualification recognised by all UK universities, including the prestigious ‘red-brick’ institutions.

In less than 9 months, the Access to Higher Education Diploma can transform your education and career prospects by preparing you for undergraduate study and beyond.

To learn more about how our Access to Higher EducationDiploma can help you gain a university place, please contact one of our friendly team on 0121 472 0116 or visit the access section of our website.

Many of our students enrol without previous qualifications and are understandably anxious about their new learning experience. However, anxieties are soon lifted by our friendly and supportive learning environment and students soon realise that everyone is in the same boat.

We also have the added advantage of being a residential college, offering all of our students a private room with en-suite for the duration of their 2 or 3 day course. You also get some stunning views of our grounds and serene surroundings!

Fircroft has many success stories, where students have overcome adversity in their life by choosing to study one or more of our short courses. Many of our students use the short course route to gain entry to the Access to Higher Education Diploma which has led some of our alumni onto red brick universities.

Several of our students have transformed their lives, as well as their learning as a result of studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma.

Students like Shafiq Ur-Rehman, who before enrolling at Fircroft, had tried several jobs including factory worker and taxi driver.

Feeling unfulfilled and wanting to provide a better life for his family, Shafiq initially enrolled on a number of short courses at Fircroft. He then progressed to study the Access course, with the ultimate aim of reading Law at university.

Just over 7 months later, having passed with flying colours, Shafiq was accepted at the University of Gloucestershire to study Law.

Reflecting on his time at Fircroft Shafiq said:

“I had a great experience, all staff and my fellow students were brilliant…Read more

Another example of triumph over adversity is Ann Wall. Ann struggled at secondary school due to an unsettled home life and worked in a series of unfulfilling jobs afterwards.

She also lacked confidence in her own ability, but plucked up the courage to enrol on a creative writing short course at Fircroft which started, in her own words; ‘an amazing journey’.

After passing the short course, Ann enrolled on to the Access to Higher Education Diploma where she conquered her self-doubt and was rewarded with a place at The University of Birmingham.

Speaking about her time at Fircroft Ann said:

“I am one of the lucky ones who have experienced the great learning environment that is Fircroft College; it really is a special place. The tutors are…Read more

If you would like to learn more about how Fircroft transforms lives and learning, please see our website for more details or call one of our friendly team on 0121 472 0116.

Fircroft offers a serene setting in which to study the Access to Higher Education Diploma.

August is enrolment season for thousands of potential students looking to boost their skills and qualifications in readiness for work or University.

The Access to Higher Education Diploma provides the ideal platform for progressing to University, particularly if you don’t have traditional qualifications such as A Levels.

The Access Course at Fircroft combines two enriching and complementary subjects; Social Sciences and Humanities, enabling you to broaden your knowledge in many related areas including:

History

Literature

Psychology

Social Policy

Sociology

But it’s not all about the qualification. Where you choose to study is often just as important a decision as the course itself. Fircroft provides a fully rounded experience of learning, socialising and personal development in a serene environment.

Students learn and grow in confidence together on the Access to Higher Education course.

‘Is Access to Higher Education right for me’…?

We hear this question a lot from prospective students contemplating their next move.

You may be asking yourself the same question or know someone who is…

So, to help you to decide, let’s start with a quick overview of what the university access course actually entails.

The course enables people without traditional qualifications, such as GCSE’s and A’ Levels, to progress to university. The course runs for one academic year from September to May and the learning is modular, with students having a choice over certain areas. (We discuss this in more detail later).

There are no formal qualifications required to study the university access course, but colleges will assess readiness such as literacy and numeracy tests*.

Some students find it beneficial to undertake some preparatory study such as the short course range at Fircroft. Our Skills for Learning Programme has been designed specifically to prepare students for the access course, particularly if they have no previous qualifications.

Access to Higher Education students come from a variety of backgrounds and abilities – from young people who missed out on proper schooling and want to improve their employment skills, to older people who want to study for pleasure during retirement.

If you feel in anyway daunted or nervous about embarking on the university access course, then you’re definitely not alone.

At Fircroft, several of our students experience self-doubt when contemplating the course for a variety of reasons. Some have had very challenging personal lives which made studying and working difficult, while others simply did not succeed in education first time around.

However, during the first few days of study, the majority of students experience a quick growth in confidence which overcomes initial anxieties. With everyone ‘in the same boat’, our students gain confidence from one another, as well as from our teaching and support staff. T

his is where the residential side of the college works well, there’s plenty of opportunities to get to know each other and the staff and get involved in social activities. At the same time there’s plenty of opportunity to relax in your own space .

All our students have a ‘commitment to learning’ goal in common and can influence what they study from a range of modules.

The main focus of the universityaccess course at Fircroft is Social Sciences and Humanities, with subjects including Sociology, Social Policy and World Literature in English. This diverse range of subjects provides a rich overview of society, politics and cultural issues and our students consistently achieve grades 10% above the national average.

So for anyone pondering the question ‘is access to higher education for me’? – we hope this blog has made your decision a little easier.

If you would like further information about our university access course or to enrol for September 2014 please visit our website or call us on 0121 472 0116.

*Whilst you do not need formal qualifications to take the Access to Higher Education Diploma at Fircroft, you do need to be at a specific level. As part of the recruitment process we will want to know your level in English and Maths, applicants need to be at least at Level 2 in both English and Maths, we will use an initial assessment to find out your level.

Universities may require GCSE’s in English, Maths and/or Science. If you don’t have these, you do have options:

Take the GCSE’s you will need before enrolling on an Access course

Take the GCSE’s after an Access course and before you go on to university

If you need only one GCSE, it may be possible to do this at another college whilst you are doing the Access Course. This would stretch you considerably – only you will know if this is possible.

Moving stories were highlighted about people overcoming serious personal and educational challenges to improve their life prospects way beyond their expectations.

Success stories like these happen as a result of our students’ determination, staff expertise … and a third, less obvious factor.

Students often tell us that their learning experience has been greatly enhanced by living in residence at the college.

Fircroft is located at the former home of George Cadbury Jr. – the college founder and grandson of the famous chocolatier John Cadbury. The college is set in 6 acres of serene gardens and woodland, providing the ideal setting for learning, leisure pursuits and socialising.

Some students come to us slightly nervous or daunted by the prospect of embarking on a totally new learning and life experience.

Living in residence helps new arrivals get to know colleagues and teaching staff in a social as well as a learning environment, helping to break the ice and form relationships that often last a lifetime.

Comfort is key at Fircroft so all of our students have a large, private bedroom with en-suite, which is ideal for recharging after a stimulating day’s learning. We have an extensive library which is open 24 / 7 with several computer and internet stations.

Many of our tutors are available after normal teaching hours to help students recap and explore subjects as and when they need to.

And of course it’s not all work, work, work! Being a residential student means having a brilliant new social life with people in exactly the same situation. There are lots of ways to spend free time, from socialising in our large common room to playing pool or having a quiet moment in our prayer room.

Having a balanced social and academic experience helps our students to improve academic and career prospects after completing the Access to Higher Education Diploma. But don’t just take our word for it:

“My time at Fircroft has been an amazing experience and a much-needed opportunity to achieve something in my life. It gave me confidence in my social and academic abilities, as well as improving my self-esteem about my future”

Scott Richardson – Former Access to Higher Education student. Scott went on to study a Counselling, Coaching and Mentoring degree at York St. John University in September 2013.

“I feel that living here helped me significantly. It provided me with the resources I needed, with the library and the college computers, but also gave me the discipline I required to ensure that I worked hard to achieve my full potential, without unnecessary distractions outside of the college”

Paul Savage – Former residential Access to Higher Education student. Paul went on to study History the University of Birmingham in September 2013.

Taking up an Access to Higher Education course at Fircroft helps people without traditional qualifications to gain entry to University for a variety of academic and vocational subjects.

We also have a limited number of non-residential places for students with commitments which require them to stay at home.

To learn more about our access course please see our website or call us on 0121 472 0116 for September 2014 enrolment. We also have a number of open days so you can see our learning and leisure facilities for yourself.

Access to Higher Education students pictured in the sunny grounds of Fircroft College.

Life throws up some challenging and indiscriminate blows at times and quite often these are faced by the most vulnerable in society.

Poor attainment at school, a troubled home life and low self-esteem are just three factors that can hold back educational and career progression.

Fortunately, pathways exist to help socially and economically disadvantaged people get back on track personally, academically and career-wise.

The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a qualification which helps people without traditional qualifications, such as ‘A’ levels, go on to University.

Access courses are available across a range of subjects including social studies, law, art, history and nursing, helping people to direct their field of study to a preferred career.

At Fircroft College we have some truly inspiring stories about how students have overcome serious personal challenges and turned their lives around by studying the Access to Higher EducationDiploma.

One of those stories involves 37 year-old Louise Bradshaw from Birmingham, whose previous drug addiction prevented her from gaining a decent standard of education.

Determined to overcome her addiction, Louise enroled on to various short courses at Fircroft to build up her skills and took up a fixed voluntary nursing post at Edward Street Hospital in West Bromwich.

After finishing her voluntary contract, Louise made University her goal and enroled on to our Access to Higher Education Diploma in September 2012, despite having three young children to look after! After successfully completing the course, Louise went on to study Criminology at University and was recognised for her admirable efforts with a Helena Kennedy Foundation Award for overcoming obstacles to education.

Equally inspiring is Ann Wall’s story, who had very low self-esteem and confidence before she came to us a few years ago with an acute sense of failure. Owing to a dysfunctional home life, Ann had not achieved at school and embarked on a number of jobs that left her feeling unfulfilled.

After encountering the further stress of a marriage breakdown and severe depression, Ann realised life was passing her by and decided to embark on a journey with Fircroft that culminated in the Access to Higher Education Diploma. Despite feeling anxious and daunted during the early stages, Ann overcame these hurdles with the help of our support staff and went on to study at The University of Birmingham.

These are just two of the inspiring stories we have helped to create at FircroftCollege of Adult Education and there are many more to read about.

If you’re interested in creating your own inspiring story by studying the Access to Higher EducationDiploma at Fircroft please see our Access to HEpage or call us on 0121 472 0116.